Question on half-shafts
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Question on half-shafts
Greetings,
I am in process of motor rebuild to 383 with 400+/400+ hp/tq. (pretty much to ZZ383 spec) but with flat tappet cam and iron heads.
Anyway, I have the smaller drive shaft and half shaft sets. I believe these were what came on all small blocks until 78 or so. My plan is to blast/powder coat and replace ujoints with HD units. Will these handle the power ok. I doubt I'll be doing any serious racing but will be pulling hole shots every now and again.
Will these shafts hold up? I had not budgeted replacing them but if they need to be upgraded now is the time. Trans=TH400. Diff=3:36
Opinions? TIA!
I am in process of motor rebuild to 383 with 400+/400+ hp/tq. (pretty much to ZZ383 spec) but with flat tappet cam and iron heads.
Anyway, I have the smaller drive shaft and half shaft sets. I believe these were what came on all small blocks until 78 or so. My plan is to blast/powder coat and replace ujoints with HD units. Will these handle the power ok. I doubt I'll be doing any serious racing but will be pulling hole shots every now and again.
Will these shafts hold up? I had not budgeted replacing them but if they need to be upgraded now is the time. Trans=TH400. Diff=3:36
Opinions? TIA!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
You should be OK if you are using street tires. Slicks are what tend to destroy half-shafts (and differentials and trailing arm axles). If you're into the habit of dumping the clutch all the time something is going to break eventually. Using good U-joints is a plus in extending driveline life.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I had a thread about powder coating drive and half shafts earlier this year. It was highly recommended to drill a small air hole into the shafts to keep heat from building up during the baking process to prevent explosion. Here was the thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...riveshaft.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...riveshaft.html
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 2
From: MS
There were 2 different halfshaft sizes, 2.5 inches 68-74 and 3 inches 75-up.
The early shafts had thicker tubing so strength about the same.
Dana Spicer solids the best and strongest,
driveshaft 5-790X
halfshafts 5-799X
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,456
Likes: 102
From: Piedmont Va
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13,'19-'20
Should just be one driveshaft and u-joint size for 68-79 automatics.
There were 2 different halfshaft sizes, 2.5 inches 68-74 and 3 inches 75-up.
The early shafts had thicker tubing so strength about the same.
Dana Spicer solids the best and strongest,
driveshaft 5-790X
halfshafts 5-799X
There were 2 different halfshaft sizes, 2.5 inches 68-74 and 3 inches 75-up.
The early shafts had thicker tubing so strength about the same.
Dana Spicer solids the best and strongest,
driveshaft 5-790X
halfshafts 5-799X
Thanks all for your input gents!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 12
From: columbus oh
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
